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PET Resin: Terephthalic Acid and Ethylene Glycol, Whinfield and Dickson
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) was invented by Whinfield and Dickson, whose patent (US 2,465,319, 1949) gives this first example: boil terephthalic acid in ethylene glycol until it dissolves, wash and dry the glycol ester, then heat it at 280 °C under nitrogen until it is a viscous polymer that melts at 254–255 °C and can be drawn into fibre. The melt is extruded and cut into chips (pellets) for moulding and spinning.
The picture: our diagram.
Advanced
About 4 days
Instructions
1
1
Boil the acid in glycol
Boil the acid in glycol
Reflux 50 g terephthalic acid with 89 g ethylene glycol for about 72 hours, until it has all dissolved. This makes glycol terephthalate.
Materials for this step:
Terephthalic Acid50 g
Ethylene Glycol89 gTools needed:
Balance Scale
Round-Bottom Flask
Condenser Coil
Hot Plate2
2
Wash and dry the ester
Wash and dry the ester
Wash the glycol terephthalate with water and dry it under vacuum.
Tools needed:
Distilled Water
Glass Funnel - Stemmed
Filter Paper
Vacuum Pump3
3
Heat at 280 °C under nitrogen
Heat at 280 °C under nitrogen
Melt it and heat at 280 °C for 8½ hours in a slow stream of nitrogen: no air may reach it. It grows thick as it polymerises.
Tools needed:
Round-Bottom FlaskHot Plate
Thermocouple with Readout
Nitrogen Gas Cylinder
Heat-Resistant Gloves
Chemical Splash Goggles4
4
Test for cold-drawing
Test for cold-drawing
Pull a thread from the melt with a rod and let it cool. It is ready when the cold thread can be stretched to several times its length. The finished polymer melts at 254–255 °C.
Tools needed:
Glass Stirring RodHeat-Resistant Gloves5
5
Extrude and cut into chips
Extrude and cut into chips
Extrude the molten polymer, let it cool, and cut it into chips (pellets).
Tools needed:
Plastic Extruder
PelletizerHeat-Resistant GlovesMaterials
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- 89 gPlaceholder
Tools Required
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